Method and means for treating yarn



Filed April 30, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z'mnentor CAR I) Rummy.

(Ittornegs March 24,1942. 0. A. RUDISILL METHOD AND MEANS FOR TREATING YARN Filed April 3Q, 1941 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZSnnentor Cam. 9 RulMSM-k Gttomegs 3 Sheejcs-Sheet 3 mm Q Zmventor CQRL, n fiu hs Lk.

@ attornegs C. A. RUDISILL METHOD AND MEANS FOR TREATING YARN I Filed April 30, 1941 March 24, 1942.

Patented Mar. 24, 1942 UNITED STATES? ATENT OFFICE MIETHOD AND MEANS FOR TREATING YARN 4 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of singeing and more particularly to a method and means for simultaneously singeing a plurality of yarn ends while passing from one set of packages to another set of packages.

I-Ieretofore, it has been the practice to draw the ends from individual creel packages over a singeing flame. After singeing, each of the ends Was usually wound upon a reel into a skein form. Since the heat created during the singeing operation caused the yarn to shrink, it was necessary to apply very little tension to the yarn; otherwise the skeins would be wound so tight upon the reels, that it would be impossible to remove them without damage to the yarn. After winding the yarn into skein form, it was then necessary to subject the same toanother winding operation in order to place the yarn on spools.

It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus wherein the ends are simultaneously drawn from individual creel packages, over a singeing flame, and then wound directly onto the individual spools. By employing this method,

the yarn ends may be subjected to the desired tension while being singed because the shrinkage on the spool does not matter so much. This method also eliminates one of the above-named operations. namely the Winding of the yarn ends from the skeins to the spools.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method of treating yarn which comprises the subjection of the individually tensioned ends to suilicient heat to singe the projecting fibers,

then brushing the periphery of the singed ends to remove the charred fibers, and then subjecting the tensioned singed ends to a liquid bath,

while hot, to thereby shrink the yarn and set leased and allowed to resume their proper position for travel through the flame.

Some of theobjects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved apparatus for singeing yarn;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 22 in Figures 1 and 3;

Figure 3 is an elevation with certain portions shown in section, looking at the near side of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 44 in Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral [0 denotes a suitable creel frame upon which a plurality of cones of yarn I l are mounted. From each of the cones of yarn H, a strand I2 is adapted to be drawn, said strand passing through a conventional tension device [4. From the tension device l4, each of the strands pass through a reed t5, beneath a rod i6, between the bristles of a brush ll, through a reed l8, beneath a roller l9, over a rod 23, through an eyelet 24 (Figure 1), and then onto a suitable spool 25.

At a point between the rod it, and. brush ll, a pair of burners 30 are mounted for vertical movement. Each of the burners has an opening 3! in the upper portion thereof, through which gas or other inflammable substance is adapted to pass. 3 Upon passing through this opening, the substance is ignited thereby forming flames 32. When the burners 30 are elevated to the position shown in Figures 3 and 4, the flames are adapted to envelop the strands I2 as they travel therethrough, and sings the projecting fibers from their peripheries. Each of the burners 38 has a cross bar 33, associated therewith, said bars being adapted to support the strands l2 inspaced relation to the top of the burners during a singeing operation.

The burners 38 are'connected together by any suitable means such as cross bars 34, and each cross bar has a downwardly extending rod 35, which rod is mounted for vertical slidable movement in bearingst. The lower end of each of the rods 35 has connected thereto as at 31, a

suitable cord or chain 33, the other end of said,

cured thereon. The free end of the handle 44 is adapted to rotate from bold line position (Figures 1 and 3) to dotted line position. When the handle 44 is in bold line position, the burners are in elevated position, as shown, and therefore it i necessary to hold the handle in this position by means of a suitable pin 45, which is removably inserted in the side of the framework 42. In order to lower the burners the pin 45 is removed, and then gravity will cause the handle to rotate from bold line position, to dotted line position. When in dotted line position, the handle rests against a stationary pin 41 which likewise projects from the side of framework 42.

In order to convey the smoke and soot from the flame 32, a suitable chimney 49 is provided directly above the burners. The chimney 49 has horizontal rim 49a which extends across the travelling strands I2 and serves as a guide for these strands when they are lifted at the burners above the normal singeing position.

After the strands have been singed by the flames 32, it is desirable to remove the charred fibers from the periphery of each strand, therefore, the brush I1 is provided. This brush I1 is supported by plate members 55, which members overlap angle-shaped plate members 56 and are secured together by any suitable means such as bolts 51. In order to provide for the necessary vertical adjustment of the brush II, the upstanding leg of members 56 have vertically disposed slots 58 cut therein (Figure 4) The upper ends of the bristles in the brush II contact the peripheries of the strands I2 to loosen the charred fibers, after which the removed fibers fall into an opening 59. The opening 59 is an enlarged bell shaped suction orifice on the end of an elongated nozzle 65, said nozzle 65 being an integral part of pipe 66. Pipe 66 is connected to the intake side of a fan 61 as at 68 (Figure 3). This fan has an exhaust outlet 69 and is driven by means of a suitable motor I9 through the medium of motor shaft 'II and fan shaft I2.

The reed I8, which is located directly over the opening 59, serves to keep the strands in their proper position relative to the sides of the framework 42. Also the roller I9 is employed for resting against the upper side of the strands I2 to thereby bring all of the strands to substantially the same elevation. Thisroller is preferably covered with a suitable fibrous material such as a pile fabric I9a so that the strands can sink into the pile fabric and thereby have the charred portions further loosened therefrom. I

When the yarn strands pass through the flame, the heat removes practically all of the moisture supplied by the natural humidity of the mill, thereby reducing the tensile strength. Therefore, the strands I9 after having the charred portions removed from the peripheries are then passed over a suitable moisture applying roller 29, said roller being preferably made of a hard metallic material. It will be noted by referring to Figure 4, that the strands I2 are raised slightly above their normal line of travel by the upper side of the roller 20. In other words, a slight downward pressure is exerted by the strands while being drawn over the roller 20, thereby causing these strands to be moistened and at the same time ironed by this pressure. The moisture for the roller 20 is supplied by a suitable trough member I5, said member I having a solution I5 therein in which the lower portion of the roller is adapted to rotate. Solution I9 is preferably composed of suitable soluble oils or a Wetting out or penetrating agent mixed with water. Such a composition readily penetrates the strands, increases breaking strength and adds luster to the yarn. Also by having the ends I2 pass over the roller 20, while they are still hot, the fiber are consolidated and the yarn is shrunk and cooled properly before being wound upon the spools 25. The trough I5 is supported by suitable brackets, broadly designated by the reference characters 11, said brackets being secured to the framework 42 by any suitable means such as bolts I8. An adjustment is provided for the brackets 11 by cutting slots I9 in the brackets through which the bolts I8 are adapted to be inserted.

Driving means for rollers 19 and 22 The roller I9 has a pulley on the end thereof, said pulley having a belt 8I mounted thereon. This belt is also mounted upon another pulley 82 on the end of roller 22. The end of roller I9 also has a pulley 83 fixedly secured on this end alongside the roller 88. Upon this pulley 83 another belt 84 is mounted. Belt 84 is also mounted upon a pulley 85 on one end of a shaft 86, said shaft being disposed transversely of the travelling strands and being rotatably mounted in brackets 81 and 88 of a winder frame 89. The intermediate portion of the shaft 86 has a pulley 9U fixedly secured thereon. Upon the pulley 99 a belt 9| is mounted and this belt 9| extends upwardly and around a cylinder 92. The cylinder 92 has a restricted end portion 93 rotatably mounted in the winder frame 89.

It is seen by referring to Figures 1 and 3 that the end portion 93 extends a. substantial distance beyond the end of winder frame and has a cone pulley 94 mounted thereon. The extreme right hand end of the shaft 93 is rotatably mounted in a framework 95, said framework 95 being secured to the end of the winder frame 99. A belt 96 is mounted upon the cone pulley 94, which belt extends downwardly and is also mounted upon a second cone pulley 91. This cone pulley 9'! is fixedly secured upon a shaft 93, which shaft 98 has its ends rotatably mounted in framework 95, and in the end of winder frame 89. Shaft 98 has a pulley I fixed thereon, upon which a belt IOI (Figure 1) is mounted. The belt IIII is also mounted upon a pulley I02, fixedly secured on shaft I03 of a motor I84. Therefore, the rollers I9 and 22 are positively driven so that the pile peripheries I9a and 22a respectively, will contact the individual strands of the yarn. This driving means comprises members designated by the reference characters 80 to I94 inclusive.

The direction of rotation of the rollers I9 and 22 is preferably so that the contacting surfaces will be moving in the opposite direction to the normal movement of the yarn strands I2. In other words, it is preferable that the rollers I9 and 22 rotate in a counter-clockwise manner in Figure 4, while the yarn strands I2 are moving from right to left in contact with the lower peripheries of these rollers. Since each of the rollers I9 and 22 have a nap or pile periphery, the yarn strands I2 will sink into these rollers and any projecting fibers which extend from the periphery of these ends will be smoothed and consolidated into the main portion of the strand.

Variable speed driving mechanism for spools 25 The eyelets 24 (Figures 1 and 2) are mounted on suitable traverse bars III]. One of the traverse bars I III has a downwardly extending link III, the lower end of which slidably penetrates the intermediate portion of a lever IIZ. On the lower end of the link III .and below the point of penetration of the lever IIZ, a suitable nut H3 is provided. The lever H2 also is mounted for oscillation around a shaft I'Id which shaft H4 is substantially parallel to the shafts 93 and 98 previously described. Upon shaft II4 a suitable ratchet wheel H5 is fixedly secured, the teeth in said ratchet wheel being normally engaged by the free end of a suitable dog IIG. This dog is pivoted as at II? to the free end of lever I I2. In order to normally limit the amount of counter-clockwise movement of the lever II2 (Figure 2), a suitable pin H8 is provided, said pin I I8 extending outwardly from the end of Winder frame 89.

During the winding operation, the traverse bars I iii are moved up and down in a well known manner to thereby distribute the yarn evenly upon the spools 25. As the diameter of the spool becomes larger it is necessary to reduce the rate of rotation of the spool so that the surface speed will be maintained substantially the same. Therefore, each time the traverse bar 24 moves upwardly the collar H3 will raise the lever H2 a small amount which, in turn, will rotate the ratchet wheel H5 and the shaft lit. The shaft H4 has a bracket 325 threadably secured therearound and projecting from the bracket are a pair of guide pins I25 which extend on each side of the belt 35. Also the bracket IE5 is adapted to slide along a suitable rod I23 which serves to hold the bracket in the proper position and prevent the same from rotating when the'threaded rod Si l rotates. As the ratchet wheel II 5; rotates, the belt 55 is shifted from right to left in Figure 3, thereby causing the same to rotate on a smaller circumference of cone 5? and upon a larger circumference on cone 9 1-. This shifting will produce a corresponding reduction of the R. P. @M/s of the cylinder 92. The cylinder92 is adapted to drive the spools 25 in unison through the medium of suitable belts I25, said belts extending around the cylinder 92 and also extending around suitable whorl I26 in spindles I27. The spools 25 are removably secured upon spindles It? in a well known manner.

Driving means for moisture applying roll It is necessary to rotate the roll 20 in its bath of fluid It in order that portions of the fluid may be applied to strands i2. It is seen by referring to Figures 1 and 3, that the restricted ends of the roll are rotatably mounted in the end of trough l5. One end of the roll 25 extends beyond the end of the trough and has loosely mounted thereon a lever I35, said lever having a dog I3! pivoted as at I32. Dog I3I has its free end normally engaging a suitable ratchet wheel The ratchet wheel I33 is fixedly secured on the restricted end portion of the roll 20. The other end of the lever I35 has pivotally secured thereto as at I34, a link I35, and this link I35 extends downwardly and is pivoted as at I3! to a bell crank lever I38, which bell crank lever Ilia is fixedly secured upon shaft 86, previously described. As the shaft 86 rotates, during the normal operation of the machine, the link I35 is reciprocated back and forth and this reciprocation will oscillate the lever I30, and also cause the dog iSI to advance the ratchet I33 and its associated roll 28 a predetermined amount for each oscillation. The direction of rotation of the roll 25 is such that the contacting surface of .wardly from the collar this roller with the yarn will be travelling opposite to the normal direction of travel of the yarn strands. In other words, the roll 20 travels in a clockwise manner beneath the strands I2, while these strands are passing from right to left in Figure l. Such an action will serve to smooth and compress the moistened fibres in the strands after being singed. The roll contact is especially effective, due to the fact that the yarn is still hot when it passes thereover. Since the liquid will more readily penetrate the heated yarn, the pressure applied by the tensioned strands upon this roll will serve to more hastily cause penetration.

Tying in device for broken strands It frequently occurs that one or more of the strands I2 become broken and severed, and therefore it is necessary to re-thread the same beneath and through the various members so that the strand can again be attached to its respective spool. It is evident that a certain minimum speed must be maintained while the strand is passing over the flame; otherwise all of the strands will be severed by the flame. When a strand becomes severed, it must be held out of contact with the flame while being threaded through the apparatus so as to prevent the flame from burning the same. In order to facilitate production, it is verydesirable that means be provided for directing one or more severed strands out of the path of the flame so that the same can be rethreaded through the machine while the remaining strands continue to pass through the flame and be singed.

This means for holding the strand out of contact with the flame while it is being rethreaded is clearly illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings. It is here seen that on each side of the framework 4.2, a suitable Y-shaped bracket .I5Ei is, provided, said Y-shaped bracket having horizontally disposed bars 5| integral with the upper forked prongs. Also fixedly secured along each side of the framework 42 at a point in close proximity to the bracket I is another bracket I52. Within this bracket I52 a second Y-shaped bracket I 53 is mounted for vertical sliding movement. It will be noted that the bracket I53 has prongs I55 integral. with its upper end, which prongs normally extend a short distance above the horizontally disposed supporting bars I5I. Disposed around the lower portion of bracket I53. and within the bracket I52 is a compression spring I55, which spring abuts a suitable collar I5? on the bracket I53. Spring I56 normally pushes the collar and the bracket upwardly to the position shown in the drawings. In order to prevent rotation of the bracket I52 within brackat 53 and to limit its upward movement, a suitable slot IE8 is provided in the bracket I52. This slot is penetrated by pin I6I extending out- I5I. In the position shown, in Figure 4, the pin IISI is in the upper portion of the slot I65, and consequently the spring I56 has forced the prongs I55 up the maximum amount so that the upper ends thereof are disposed above bars I5I. When rethreading a broken strand, through the machine, the strand must pass through reed I8, beneath roller I9, over roller 20, through reed 2| and beneath roller 22. When rethreading, that portion of the strand which is normally above the flames 32, is caused to rest on top of the horizontal bars I5I and on the outside of the projecting pron-gs I55. In other words, the strand is directed in a path around the flames 32 to prevent the flame from severing the same prior to its being re-threadecl. After the strand has been re-threaded and connected to its respective spool 25, the Y-shaped bracket I53 is lowered to dotted line position as shown in Figure 4 and. at this time, the normal tension in the oil-set strand will cause the same to move oil" the supporting bars I5! and back to its proper position relative to the other strands and over the flames 32.

Each of the brackets I53 has connected thereto as at I65, a suitable cord I66, said cord extending downwardly beneath a pulley I61 and then horizontally alongside the winder frame 89. Usually the operator, after having re-threaded a strand through the machine, is positioned adjacent one of the spools 25. In order to enable him to release the strand from the off-set position to allow it to move again over the flame; it is only necessary for him to pull the cord I66 and of course, this will lower the brackets I53 and associated prongs I55 to dotted line position thereby permitting the offset portion of the strand to resume its travel over the flames 32.

In order to provide an additional coolin for the strands I2 before the same are wound upon the spools 2", a suitable electric fan I is provided. This fan directs currents of air downwardly upon strands 12 after the same have been subjected to brushing and moistening operations.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a singeing apparatus of the class described, the combination of means for singeing a plurality of strands of yarn at a time, and winding the strands into individual packages and means for releasably supporting any of said strands out of contact with said singeing means whereby a broken strand can be tied to its respective package without affecting the singeing operation of the other strands, said means for releasably supporting the strands comprising a pair of horizontally disposed rods disposed at each side of the apparatus and above the plane occupied by the singeing means, a pair of Vertically movable rods projecting above the horizontally disposed rods, whereby a parted re-tied strand can be held away from the singeing means, and remotely controlled means for lower in the vertically movable rods below the horizontally disposed rods to allow the re-tied strand to assume its normal position relative to the singeing means.

2. In a singeing apparatus of the class described, the combination of means for supporting a plurality of packages of yarn, a burner, means for drawing said yarn from said packages into close proximity to said burner whereby the projecting fibers will be singed, and means for releasably supporting any of said strands in a remote position from said burner whereby a broken end can be tied to the drawing means without affecting the singeing operation of the other strands, said means for releasably supporting the strands comprising a pair of horizontally disposed rods disposed at each side of the apparatus and above the plane occupied by the singeing means, a pair of vertically movable rods projecting above the horizontally disposed rods, whereby a parted re-tied strand can be held away from the singeing means, and remotely controlled means for lowering the vertically movable rods to allow the re-tied strand to assume its normal position relative to the singeing means.

3. In a singeing apparatus of the class described, the combination of means for singeing a plurality of strands of yarn at a time, means for engaging the periphery of the singed strand to remove the charred fibers therefrom, means for winding the strands into individual packages, and means for releasably supporting any of said strands out of contact with said singeing means whereby a broken strand can be tied to its respective package without affecting the singeing operation of the other strands, said means for releasably supporting the strands comprising a pair of horizontally disposed rods disposed at each side of the apparatus and above the plane 00- cupied by the singeing means, a pair of vertically movable rods projecting above the horizontally disposed rods, whereby a parted re-tied strand can be held away from the singeing means, and remotely controlled means for lowering the vertically movable rods to allow the re-tied strand to assume its normal position relative to the singeing means.

4. In a singeing apparatus of the class described, the combination of means for supporting a plurality of packages of yarn, a burner, means for drawing said strands of yarn from said packages into close proximity with said burner whereby the projecting fibers will be singed, means for engaging the periphery of the singed tensioned strands to remove the charred fibers therefrom, and means fore releasably supporting any of said strands in a remote position from said burner whereby a broken end can be tied to the drawing means without afiecting the singeing operation of the other strands, said means for releasably supporting the strands comprising a pair of horizontally disposed. rods disposed at each side of the apparatus and above the plane occupied by the singeing means, a pair of vertically movable rods projecting above the horizontally disposed rods, whereby a parted re-tied strand can be held away from the singeing means, and remotely controlled means for lowering the vertically movable rods to allow the re-tied strand to assume its normal position relative to the singeing means.

CARL A. RUDISILL. 

